Reynier Village-South Robertson

Mural by Ricky

Reynier Village was featured on Departures-KCET, an online exploration of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
See above the murals in the alley between Reynier Ave and Shenandoah Street.

South Robertson was also explored.
See below Barbara Mendes painting a wall of her gallery at 2701 Robertson Blvd.

Barbara Mendes

For a list of businesses with addresses, phone numbers and websites, see the Robertson page of our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association website.

Have fun with the interactive mural, watch photos and videos, read about the history of the Santa Monica Fwy, the Beverlywood Swim School, Hamilton High School, explore our nearby neighborhoods Beverlywood, Castle Heights and more…

Watch 6 videos of Doug Fitzimmons, SORO NC President.

-EL-

Art classes

We were glad to see that the remodeled space at 2803 S Robertson Blvd has been rented to Art Works Studio (310-202 1894).
Starting September 10, they offer art classes and workshops for all ages on drawing, painting and mixed media. They have camps for children Kindergarden to 12th grade during summer and school holidays.
They partnered with Hands-on 3rd so they also offer classes in sewing, knitting, screen printing, jewelry making and more.
You may book your own private drawing party for women only with champagne, dinner and live male nude model, at their Hollywood location on Melrose and Larchmont. Call: 323-463 2562 or email: ladrawing party@gmail.com

To register for classes, email: info@artworksstudio.org

Riding the EXPO

Expo-Culver City

It was exciting, even for a jaded adult like myself, to ride the Metro Expo Line on the opening day of the Culver City station at Venice and Robertson, and the kids seemed to love it.  The atmosphere was festive, with a music trio playing and cheerful ladies handing out bus route schedules and reusable canvas bags.  I hopped on for free and rode to USC, my Alma Mater. The tracks sloped gently up and down to climb the overpasses crossing La Cienega and la Brea, otherwise the train rode at street level stopping at various intersections and stations, running at a leisurely pace. I got off at Expo Park and took in the lively scene of kids playing in the large round fountain in the middle of the Rose Garden. Waiting for the next train on the return, it was heart-warming to see so many habitual commuters, not just first-day joy-riders.  This type of public transportation, a long time coming in Los Angeles, does really help get people where they need to go, without a car.
Please send us comments about your experiences riding the Expo Line, along Exposition Blvd. It travels all the way to downtown L.A., where you may connect to the Red Line to Hollywood and North Hollywood, the Gold Line to Pasadena and East L.A.,  the Blue line to Long Beach.

-EL-

Expo Park-USC

SORO FEST

Barbara Mendes

The Annual SORO Community festival celebrated its 15th anniversary this year, on Sunday June 3, 2012.  A new coordinator, Mark Fielder, and many volunteers worked really hard to organize this exciting event, that attracts throngs of neighbors to a Robertson Boulevard without cars, between Cattaraugus and Beverlywood, and is sponsored by SoRo Inc. and South Robertson Neighborhood Council.
Many local vendors and artisans display their wares, community organizations distribute information about their activities, dance and music groups perform on stage, gourmet food trucks serve lunch.
This year we checked out the booths of jewelry designer Phoebe Neil, who is President of our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association, and of artist Barbara Mendes, who owns a Gallery at 2701 Robertson and designed the blue SORO Fest tee-shirt that everyone was wearing.
Doug Fitzsimmons, President of SORONC, presented the Susan Bursk Community Service Award to Beth Ryan, President of the Crestview Neighborhood Association, and organizer of summer programs for kids at Stepping Forward LA and RAL (Robertson Activities League).
Pico Cleaners received the Green Leadership award for their environment-friendly methods used in their business.

-EL-

Phoebe Neil

Schools on Robertson

Hamilton High

Did you know that you could find so many learning opportunities for yourself and your family on our very own South Robertson Blvd?

If you have teenage children, they may attend Alexander Hamilton High School, and qualify for their excellent Music and Humanities magnets.

If you would like to grow vegetables in your own backyard, volunteer at the Hami Garden, take a 4-week class from Master Gardner George Pessin, Sundays starting April 29. Email him to register. Click here for more details, see our earlier post.

If you have pre-school children and would like to give them an early start in environmentally sound behaviors, consider enrolling them at
Green Beginnings Pre-School (310) 841 6100
3047-3049 S Robertson Blvd (more info)

If you need your toddlers to get comfortable in the water to be safe around your pool, book lessons at
Beverlywood Swim School (310) 838 4088
2610-2612 S Robertson Blvd (more info)

If you wish to learn about making art with ceramics, contact
Echo Ceramics (310) 815-1525
2856 S Robertson Blvd

if you love gourmet cooking, walk into this delightful shop that also sells kitchen tools and get a list of their classes

Hipcooks West LA (310) 841 2738
2833 S Robertson Blvd

-EL-

More on Robertson

Good Will Donation Center

There are so many useful places on Robertson, right next door to our homes, and we should support them, because we’d like to make our neighborhood more user-friendly.
For instance, I always have my car washed locally, bring my donations to Good Will, have my clothes dry-cleaned here; if I were in the market for a used car, I would certainly take a look on Robertson first, if I still owned a dog, I might bring it nearby for grooming.
See below a list of these places, please send us your favorites

CAR WASH  310-559 8044
2460 S Robertson Blvd

EURO COACH CORP  310-280 0595
2900 S Robertson Blvd
www.eurocoachautonet.com

FANCY CLEANERS  310-837 2822
2895  S Robertson Blvd

GOOD WILL  310-559 5806
2502 S Robertson Blvd

MANY PAWS 310-837 1710
2750  S Robertson Blvd

–EL –

Art on Robertson

SoRo Art Center

Art Gallery

A few weeks ago I walked to Robertson Blvd to review some of the new places that have opened recently, in order to update the RVNA website.  I stopped inside the SoRo Art Center to chat with local artist BARBARA MENDES.  She has been involved in our neighborhood activities for many years, in fact, she created the Reynier Village Neighborhood Association logo that you see on color signs in some of our streets.  As always, I was very impressed with her paintings, so decided to buy one for myself, to enjoy its amazing colors and shapes every day in my own home.
Currently the gallery hosts a show of other artists work as well, NEW VIBRATIONS, and on Sunday February 19 at 3 pm they are having a party.   You’re all invited!

SoRo Art Center
Barbara Mendes Gallery
2701 S Robertson Blvd
310-558 3215

-EL-

Local restaurants

Cafe Brasil

For over 20 years, since moving to Reynier Village, I have been going out for meals with friends and family at my favorite nearby restaurants, a short drive away.
CAFE BRASIL, opened in 1991.  They were the only place to enjoy a leisurely lunch in the outdoor patio the day after the 1992 LA riots, when every other place was closed.  And we love their new location further West on Washington, next to their enchanting Villa Brasil Motel, opened in 2002.
HU’S SZECHUAN has been serving tasty and inexpensive Northern Chinese food at this location  for over 30 year, and they also deliver. My friend Chris wrote a glowing restaurant review way back in 1979, so that’s how many years we have been coming to eat here.
VERSAILLES, opened in 1981, is a no-nonsense Cuban place always packed with customers.  They have another location on La Cienega Blvd, just south of Pico.
Check the list below for addresses and websites, along with my favorite dish for each.
Please send us comments about YOUR local favorites.

-EL-

Café Brasil: 310-837 9506
10831 Venice Blvd LA 90034
Executive Lunch $ 7.95
www.cafe-brasil.com

Hu’s Szechuan: 310-837 0252
10450 National Blvd LA 90034
Yu Hsiang Eggplant $ 7.45
www.husrestaurant.com

Versailles: 310-558 3168
10319 Venice Blvd, LA 90034
Cuban Style Pork $ 11.99
www.versaillescuban.com

Eat on Robertson

Campos. Robertson Blvd

There are not nearly enough good places to eat on Robertson as we would like, so we wouldn’t have to drive to downtown Culver City to find a proper restaurant, however we have some local favorites, like Campos, not a chain like Taco Bell across the street, but a family owned place that serves authentic Mexican food.  We love the Argentinian Empanadas made by Adriano and Marcelo, and we’re very appreciative of the discounts they offer our Reynier Village Neighborhood Association, when we host our summer park nites.

You may want to enjoy a stroll, grab some food at these local eateries.

CAMPOS TACOS  310-202 7308
2639 S Robertson Blvd

DOLCE ISOLA 310-776 7070
2867  S Robertson Blvd

EMPANADAS  310-836 5944
2513 S Robertson Blvd
www.argentinianempanadas.com

Dolce Isola. Robertson Blvd

-EL-

Swim on Robertson

When I moved to Reynier Village from Hollywood 24 years ago, in 1988, my daughter was still a baby, but pretty soon I was taking her to swim at the Beverlywood Swim School on Robertson, a local institution that has been in business since 1951.  Kids and parents splash away together inside the 2 warm pools, and patient teachers guide the toddlers’ first floats in this weightless environment.
The place is closed on Sundays to host birthday parties.  You may want to book one for your kids. Check their website for more info.
www.swimbss.com
BEVERLYWOOD SWIM SCHOOL
2610-2612  S Robertson Blvd
310-838 4088

- – EL

RVNA Community Meeting

Palms Westminster Hall

Every year the Reynier Village Neighborhood Association organizes a Community meeting, where our residents socialize and exchange ideas.  Members of the RVNA Board plus APS, SORONC and LAPD representatives make short presentations of their activities, answer questions and concerns.

This year the meeting takes place Monday February 6 at 7 pm, in the beautiful Hall of the Palms Westminster Presbyterian Church, facing a wide green lawn that served as playground for the children attending the Nursery school it housed years ago.

Please come out and participate, stay connected, send us an email at reyniervillage@yahoo.com and join our mailing list, to be notified about our events and other neighborhood news.

-EL-RVNA

Robertson Blvd

Antique Plus

I often take walks around the neighborhood, by myself or with a friend.  Even now that our dog has passed away, I keep up this habit to get some exercise.  Last Sunday I walked on Robertson Blvd, which I don’t usually do on weekdays to avoid the traffic, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the only remaining antique store open and displaying their wares on the sidewalk.  Some new shops have opened recently, and a few storefronts are being remodeled to attract tenants.
Let’s support our local merchants, art galleries, schools and restaurants.

Please send us comments about your favorites.
See listed below our choices in the antiques, upholstery and furniture category.

ANTIQUE PLUS (310) 903 6072
2812  S Robertson Blvd

ART DECO DESIGNERS (310) 838 8011
2820-22  S Robertson Blvd

SERENA INTERIORS  (310) 558 9678
2739 S Robertson Blvd
www.SerenaInteriors.com

Art Deco Designers

-EL-

Car Batteries – Free Delivery and Installation

Voltec Battery, Inc.
8664 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90034
310-733-4334 – Ask for Joe.

“Located near Reynier Village (Venice and Cattaraugus), Voltec will bring the new battery to you and install it, for no extra charge.  My car battery died on Saturday afternoon (Christmas Eve day).  I called Voltec at 8:30 Monday morning, and by 9:30 am, I had a brand new car battery installed and working, all for $91.32, total.   Sweet.  Pleasant, prompt, and professional with great prices, too. 

“Ask Joe for the 5% discount for Reynier Village Home and Garden Blog readers.”

-  -  Recommended by Carol Fuchs, a Reynier Village resident

Neighborhood finds & shares

We’ve added a new category: Our Neighbors Recommend. . .

This  is for all South Robertson residents to give us their personal recommendations of businesses or products they have already used.

When you find an awesome local business, a good tradesperson (painter, electrician, etc.) or just something cool you’d like to share with your neighbors (a garden product or even a delicious recipe),  please email us at Reynier Village and we may post it.

If you are a SORO business owner, please consider joining the SORONC card program  to become a preferred merchant and  get on the SORO Neighborhood Council business directory. SORO residents can get a free SOROCard to get great discounts on goods and services from participating merchants.

We look forward to hearing about your personal experience with a local business or product. Whatever discovery you might blurt out to your neighbor or friend,  we’d love to hear about it too!

Go Solar

We attended the Reynier Village solar workshop organized by Open Neighborhoods at PermaCity, and gathered lots useful info that we want to share.
It’s never been as affordable as now to install solar panels on your home.
You get rebates from DWP that favor early adopters, currently $ 2.20 per watt, plus a 30% direct write-off on your taxes.

Permacity is offering a 33% group discount (which simply means 3 homes within 1 square mile), and that brings your cost down to $4.40 per watt, before the rebates.  Final cost $ 1.60 per watt, or about $ 9,600 and up for a 6 KiloWatt system, sufficient for a small 1,500 square feet home.
Check out their website for more info or email Herb Mendelsohn.
You should talk to your neighbors about doing the installation at the same time, then email us to tell us you are going ahead.
If you want NO upfront costs, you can lease your solar system and pay about half of your current monthly electric bill to Sun Power for 20 years.
If you’d like to attend another group workshop, register on the Open Neighborhood website

If you’re ready to get a free solar assessment about the costs and timing of installation on your home, call: 310-893 3100.

It makes economic sense to go solar at this time, you will save on your utility bill, and to switch to a clean and renewable energy source will also help reduce the use of dirty coal-generated electricity in our city.
-EL-

Farmers market

pupusas

We all know by now that locally grown fruits and vegetables are better for our health (more nutritious) and for the environment (less pollution).
So why don’t we make it a weekly ritual to visit the Farmers Market at 1801 S. La Cienega Blvd?
It’s very close to Reynier Village and easily reachable by walking or bicycling.
It takes place every Thursday afternoon from 2 to 7 pm.
You can buy organic or pesticide-free produce to prepare healthy meals.
You can buy cut flowers, also plants for your garden (from Ramos Nursery).
You can take home delicious meals, such as Salvadoran pupusas and Hawaiian BBQ chicken.

For more info check out their website
www.lacienegafarmersmarket.com

-EL-

organic vegetables

Tankless water heaters

Replacing an old-fashioned water heater  just got easier and cheaper.  Noritz America recently  introduced a new series of affordable,  residential, energy efficient  tankless water heaters (Model NR50)  -  for both outdoor and indoor installations.  With the NR50-OD for outdoors, say  goodbye to expensive 3/4″ gas lines,  and hello  standard 1/2″!

Old tank water heater, leaking and rusty

What is a tankless  water heater?
Traditional storage tank water heaters are always “on”,  and this means heating and reheating the  tank of water even if you aren’t using it.  Tankless types only heat the water when you turn on the  hot water faucet.  The water will heat up to the temperature that is set and remains that temperature until you turn off the faucet.  NR50′s default  is set to 120 degrees.  With tankless, you never run out of hot water.  You get a  continuous supply until you turn off the faucet.

New Noritz NR50-OD tankless water heater

The Noritz NR 50-OD (outdoor) water heater is made in Japan with a durable steel casing  and polyester coating. It has a limited 12- year heat exchanger warranty; a limited 5- year parts warranty,  and a limited 1- year labor warranty. Because it only requires  a 1/2″ gas line,  you don’t need to have your plumber install an expensive 3/4″ gas line to the unit.

These compact heaters (13.8″ wide x 20.5″ high x 6.7″ deep) heat up to 5 gallons per minute and have an electronic ignition (so you need to have an  electrical outlet nearby).  The outdoor model (shown above) doesn’t need venting!

Get money back!
The Noritz NR 50 is eligible for a $150 mfgr. rebate and a federal tax credit of  up to $300 for year 2011.

Wendy Waterless, she's "always hot"

Contact Noritz for rebate information at 866-766-7489.  For a 2011 federal tax credit,  go to ahrinet.org/2011+federal+energy+efficiency+tax+credits

Hire an experienced plumber!
Ray from R&M Plumbing has installed over 20 tankless units (as of the date of this post),  and all but the Noritz NR50 required running 3/4″ gas lines,  and it pushed up the price.  In addition, the base price of the 3/4″ units are more than the  NR50.    Ray was thrilled to install the above tankless heater for a Reynier Village homeowner .   It cut installation time way down,  and he hopes to install many more for Reynier Village, SORO,  and other West L.A homeowners.

Give Ray a call to see if a tankless water heater is right for your home.
R&M Plumbing
Tel. 310-475-5757
Calif.  Contractors License  C36-735022

Tankless vs tank storage ~ which would you rather have?

- -  DM

Man does not live by compost alone. . .

Introducing “Food & Dining”  to our blog!
Because toiling in the garden is not sufficient for a happy life, man (and woman) also has culinary needs, and darn it, who doesn’t like to talk about food?!?!???

Citrus Jicama Salad from Chichenitza

With our new Food & Dining category we invite you to comment and share your:
-  family recipes, bbq marinades, backyard picnic ideas
-  delicious finds at Trader Joe’s, Glatt’s, Elat or other local markets
-  favorite vendor at a local farmers market
-  methods for canning or drying fruits from your garden
-  hot local restaurants . . .

. . .   and much more!    Please join in and let’s talk food!

                           – - DM

Californication comes to SORO

Reynier Village (in SOuthRObertson) is a film-friendly neighborhood in Los Angeles. Just the other night (June 3, 2011) Showtime’s “Californication” shot some scenes at Miss Donuts on the n.e. corner of Robertson Blvd.  & Beverlywood St.

David Duchovny at Miss Donuts during the filming of a Californication episode.

Neighbor and Fido Walk owner Mitchel Balmayne  was passing by,  and took a few snapshots of the Californication cast & crew.  Worth checking out!

                       – - DM

Culver City Art Walk

Giggle and Pop!

Each month we discover more art galleries, places to eat and shops popping up on the stretch of Washington Blvd, between La Cienega and National, that used to be quite deserted.
The best time to visit was yesterday, during the sixth annual Culver City Art Walk, when lots of people really did come out and walked around.
The event started at 2 pm on Helms Walk with Giggle and Pop!, a silly but sweet performance by the students of the Culver City High School Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, created by artist Gary Baseman. As late as 7 pm the opening of The Vault (6150 Washington) was still crowded, it felt just like at a private party.

Local musicians and artists came together for an impromptu jazz performance, the mural by D*Face titled “Going Nowehere Fast” loomed on the side wall of the Corey Helford Gallery (8522 Washington), visitors checked out the artwork featured in over 35 galleries, like the paintings of Peter Sims at Cardwell/Jimmerson (8568 Washington).
Hope you made it there on this special day, but if you didn’t, go any time, have a bite to eat at Pinches Tacos (8665 Washington, BYOB), listen to jazz at Industry Cafe (6039 Washington), work out at Sweat Pilates (8540 Washington).
Then send us a comment with your suggestions.

P.S. Click on our 2010 Culver City Art Walk post.

–EL

Jazz musicians

Mural by D* Face

Cardwell/Jimmerson Gallery

Hardwood floors

hardwood floor

The 1930s Spanish homes in our neighborhood used to have gorgeous hardwood floors.  Unfortunately, decades ago, many of them were covered up with carpeting.

A couple of weeks ago, with the new year, I finally decided to remodel a spare bedroom and turn it into a TV room.  I wondered what was under that tired old carpet and I discovered something even worse, ugly linoleum tiles glued on top of the original wood.  I consulted some floor experts and was given little hope of finding anything salvageable underneath, we would have to rip it all up and install a new wood floor; but then a dear friend recommended Danny, a wonderful craftsman who lives in our neighborhood.  He was confident that it could be done, so one rainy morning he showed up with 4 of his long-time workers, and in 48 hours the old wood was uncovered, stripped, sanded and stained.  It feels fantastic to have the floor back to the way it was intended by those builders way back in 1931.

You may want to try doing something like this in your own house and you could discover some gems, such as these lovely corner inlays.
Danny’s number is 323-937 3563, and the name of his 25-year-old company is AMA Hardwood Floors.
Please let us know your experience with other old-fashioned craftspeople in our neighborhood: carpenters, electricians, handy-men, masons, painters, plumbers, etc.

–EL

Green preschool

Green Beginning

A brand new preschool has opened in our neighborhood!

Welcome news to those of us who remember the now defunct but wonderful Palms-Westminster Nursery School.

And this school is amazing!

playground

garden beds

The building is painted green, it’s called Green Beginning, and it follows green practices.  They have 3 garden beds where they grow strawberries and tomatoes, they use 3 composting bins… something we should all be doing in our backyards. And these 2 to 5-year-old are learning these basic skills early in their lives.

If you have young children, please check them out.  Their fall classes start September 9.

3047-3049 Roberston Blvd

310-841 6100

greenbeginningpreschool.com
- – EL

SORO Festival

For the thirteenth year the SORO festival took place on South Robertson on Sunday June 6.
It was a great way to discover local businesses and get reacquainted with old friends.

I spoke with our Reynier Village neighbor Huli, who was displaying her lovely handmade jewelry creations.
You may contact her at: stillsloane2@gmail.com

I chatted with local painter Barbara Mendes and she proudly showed me the newly painted facade of her gallery, after her recent move to 2709 Robertson Blvd.
Here’s her website: BarbaraMendes.org

I had meant to get a facial and I found a list of choices on a flyer from Massage Garage, plus a $10 discount coupon. I had never noticed their storefront on Main Street in Culver City, even though I have been going to the Tuesday afternoon farmers market on that street for years. I booked a glycemic peel and was very pleased with the treatment.
Here’s their website: themassagegarage.com

I created a list of local eateries and businesses on South Robertson, that you may consult on our neighborhood website: reyniervillage.com

Eat locally, talk to your neighbors, discover how many creative and interesting people live next door to you. – - EL

ART WALK Culver City

This annual event gets better and better.
This year we decided to explore the area of Washington Blvd between National and La Cienega, East of the more popular downtown Culver City, and found a flourishing neighborhood, full of art galleries, of course, like Thinkspace, Kinkead Contemporary, Susanne Vielmetter, etc; but also other shops, like an interior decorator, Peggy Braswell, and a nursery, Esequiel, flanked by two excellent new restaurants: Sublime Food Lounge and Brunello Trattoria

For more info check the Culver City website – - EL

painter at Thinkspace

Kinkhead Contemporary

Suzanne Vielmetter

art2 on sidewalk